Few European travel topics have been delayed as often as ETIAS, the online travel authorisation that visa-exempt visitors will need before entering the Schengen Area. For years the launch date has moved, and travellers searching for it today will find a mix of old dates, firm-sounding claims and reports of a further slip. As of early November 2026, we could not find a confirmed start date from the European Union. This article separates what is stated officially from what has only been reported, so you can plan without being misled.
What ETIAS is
ETIAS stands for European Travel Information and Authorisation System. It is designed as a pre-travel check for people who can enter the Schengen Area without a visa. It is separate from the Entry/Exit System, or EES, which records entries and exits at the border and has been fully operational since April 10, 2026. Put simply, EES happens at the border and ETIAS would happen online beforehand. If you want the detail on the border system, see our explainer on the Entry/Exit System.
What the EU has said
The stated official target has been for ETIAS to start operating in the last quarter of 2026. The EU’s information portal has also said that the start date would be announced several months in advance. Reporting from earlier in the year noted that no website was yet issuing ETIAS authorisations, and that the portal did not carry a confirmed date. We were not able to retrieve the current text of the official pages for this article, so please check them directly before you rely on anything here.
What has been reported since
Several outlets have reported that the launch is likely to slip into 2027. Most trace the claim to a Financial Times report that the agency responsible for the systems, eu-LISA, no longer considers a launch by the end of 2026 realistic. The reports link the delay to the difficult rollout of EES, which brought technical problems and long border queues in its first months.
There is no confirmation of that from the agency or the Commission. According to the reports, an eu-LISA spokesperson said its management board had discussed ETIAS entering operation on June 17, 2026, and that nothing had changed since. Several outlets also noted that the Commission, and not eu-LISA alone, would have to set the launch date formally. One outlet went further and reported an official postponement announced in August 2026, with no end date; we could not confirm this against an official document, and it conflicts with the 2027 reports, so we are treating it as unverified.
The fair summary is this: the official line is still a launch at the end of 2026, many reports expect 2027, and no confirmed date has been published.
The fee
Multiple outlets report that the ETIAS fee is set to rise from 7 euros to 20 euros. Coverage differs on how final the increase is: some describe it as agreed, while earlier reports called it a proposal that still required approval from the European Parliament and Council. We could not confirm the final position from an official document, so treat the figure as reported, not guaranteed, and check the official portal when applications open. Do not pay any amount for ETIAS until the system is live.
Beware of lookalike websites
Because ETIAS is not yet operating, there is nothing to apply for today. Any website offering to process an ETIAS application now should be treated as unofficial and probably misleading. Reporting on EES has also warned about fraudulent sites. The only source you should trust for application details is the EU’s official travel information site, travel-europe.europa.eu. When ETIAS does launch, applications will be made on official EU channels, and the official fee will be the one charged by the EU, not an inflated amount added by a third party. This is the same pattern that appears in many travel scams, and our guide to vacation rental scams describes the warning signs of pressure, unusual payment methods and prices that do not add up.
What to do if you are planning a European trip
- Do not apply or pay anything now. There is no live application.
- Check your passport and entry rules. Make sure your passport meets the validity requirements for the Schengen Area, and use the official site for your nationality.
- Plan for the border system that exists. Allow extra time on arrival days for EES registration.
- Keep an eye on official announcements. The start date is meant to be announced well ahead, so a trip booked months out should have notice before the requirement bites.
- Know your stay limits. Our guide to the Schengen 90/180 rule explains the rolling window that applies whether or not ETIAS is in force.
Why this matters beyond Europe
Pre-travel authorisations are becoming normal. Travellers heading to the Caribbean and Central America face their own forms and fees, such as the digital arrival requirements we have covered for Mexico. The practical habit is the same everywhere: check the official source close to departure, and treat any third-party site charging for a government document with caution.
What we will update
We will revise this article if the EU publishes a confirmed start date or fee. Until then, the honest position is that no date is confirmed, and anything stated with certainty should be traced to an official EU source before you act on it.